Musical Theatre Syllabus

Course Description/Overview/Welcome Statement

Welcome to Musical Theatre; I’m so happy you’re here! This semester, we will work together to create, appreciate, and understand the art of theatre. To do this we will study the different facets of theatre (e.g. history, text, performance, and technicality). We will incorporate reading, writing, watching, movement, performance, and hands-on learning this semester in order to get the full experience. I am excited to get to know you better, and I look forward to learning from each other.

Learning Expectations

Class Projects

Below are the different areas of theatre we will be studying during the semester. A variety of texts, activities, and media will accompany these projects. See the class website for more specific lists of media and assignments.

Theatre History

Playwriting

Auditioning

Technical Theatre

Improv

Storytelling

Staging Techniques

Theatre Terminology and Script Analysis

Performance

All assignments and assessments will be given with adequate notice. All class assignments that are not completed in class will become homework.

Performances

All class performances are in class and are mandatory. A list of dates will be emailed out within a few weeks of the beginning of the semester. If you have any conflicts you know of (e.g. family vacations), please put them on the disclosure document survey or email me as soon as you find out. These conflicts will be much easier to work with the sooner I know about them.

Class Grading Policy

Below is the school-wide grading scale:

93-100

A

87-89

B+

67-69

D+

90-92

A-

77-79

C+

63-66

D

83-86

B

73-76

C

60-62

D-

80-82

B-

70-72

C-

0-59

I

Categories

Daily Participation: 25%

Assignments: 20%

Exams/Quizzes: 20%

Performances: 35%

Details for each assignment or project will be given as it is introduced; information can also be found on the class website.

Musical Theatre is a performance-based course, therefore your attendance is extremely important in class. Performances are mandatory! No exceptions. Failure to attend a performance will result in a major grade drop.

Citizenship

Citizenship grades are dependent upon classroom behavior

0 = Outstanding

0-1 tardy; no lunch detentions; follows class rules turns assignments in on time

Do not go into the prop hall without permission. Do not play in the curtains or with the things on the stage.

Persevere: Keep trying, even when it’s hard.

Try new things. Turn in your work on time.

*All school and district policies will be supported and enforced.

Hall Pass

You are not permitted to use the hall pass during the first or last 10 minutes of class or during teacher instruction. During the rest of class, the hall pass will be used at my discretion. You will be given two hall passes to use during the term. If you have an emergency, please talk to me; otherwise, stay in class.

Extra Credit

Up to TEN POINTS on a major grade can be received by auditioning for, participating in, or attending theater. If you attend a performance or participate in a performance, you need to bring the program with your name written on it. If you audition for a performance, you need to bring a note signed by a parent/guardian with the name of the show you auditioned for. Each item is worth 5 points. Extra credit will be accepted until one week before the semester is over.

Late Work

Each assignment will have a “study skills” grade associated with it. Assignments turned in on time will receive 5/5 points, assignments turned in late will receive 3/5, and assignments not turned in will receive 0/5.

Every assignment will have an EXPIRATION DATE. Assignments expire (will not be graded) two weeks after their due date. Please be responsible and turn in your work on time.

Absent Work

It is your responsibility to get missed work. Assignments given before an absence are due on your first day back at school. You have one class day per day absent after you return to turn in your missed work. If you have extenuating circumstances, please communicate with me so that we can make arrangements. If you are absent, check the website first for class assignments, documents, or notes; you will be required to make up whatever you missed when you return. All make-up work should be done at home or after school, not during class.

Redoing Assignments

If you wish to improve your performance on an assignment or project, you may redo it before the expiration date. The assignment or project will be counted late, resulting in a loss of study skills points.

Calendar of Due Dates for Major Assignments

All deadlines and upcoming events can be found on the class website: https://missbrownstheater.weebly.com/

Progress Reports and Report Cards

If you would like to meet with me outside of class time, you can email me at melissabr@provo.edu to set up a time to meet. I check my emails daily and will respond within 2 school days. I do not always respond to emails on Saturday or Sunday. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns throughout the semester.

Connecting Home to School

Our class website is an invaluable resource to access assignments, view calendar items, find documents important to our class, and access media used during discussions. If you miss class or need a refresher, this website is the first place to look for information.

Personal Statement and other items (optional)

This can be a very exciting class where students are asked to step out of their comfort zones on almost a daily basis. This can be very challenging, but also very rewarding for students. In order to succeed they need to do work on just that — stepping out of their comfort zones and being willing to try new things. I do not anticipate this being an overnight process, but I do expect that as long as I am putting in the effort that the students do as well. We will learn and grow together. This participation, along with showing up on time, will lead to student success.

Today’s Calendar

A Message from Principal Kyle Bates

My vision for the school is really pretty simple. We will continue to develop a laser-like focus on student achievement, furthering the work begun by Miss Gibbs. We will work tirelessly to...Read More

The Provo City School District supports equal opportunity for students, staff, parents and guests and complies with state and federal law regulation including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments. The District does not discriminate in programs services, activities or employment on the basis of religion, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, or disability.

Teacher Access

Now this is the law of the jungle:
As old and as true as the sky,
and the wolf that shall keep it may prosper,
but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the Creeper that girdles the tree-trunk,
the law runneth forward and back.
For the strength of the pack is the wolf
and the strength of the wolf is the pack.